Michigan Philanthropy Today

Menu Guide 2017

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The popular pizzeria on Culver Street in the City of Saugatuck is on its way to getting what has become a coveted and very expensive commodity in the state of Michigan: a liquor license. Saugatuck City Council gave Scooters Café & Pizzeria, LLC, its nod at Tuesday night’s meeting. As part of the license approval process by the Michigan Liquor Control Commission, any business applying for a license or a license transfer must first obtain a recommendation from the local government. “It’s definitely a step in the right direction,” Charles Myers, co-owner and managing member of Scooters Café & Pizzeria, LLC, told the Observer Newspapers following the meeting. “It’s not going to be a hard-drinking, bar type of place. We are a family oriented business and we plan on staying that way. Dads could come in and get a beer while moms could possibly opt for a wine.” Located at 322 Culver St., Scooters Café & Pizzeria is applying for a liquor license transfer from another business in Allegan County. “It has not been an easy process,” said Myers referring to the bureaucracy and the exorbitant prices of liquor licenses. Michigan is one of 25 states that limits the number of licenses available, thereby causing the price of that limited commodity to run anywhere between $30,000 to $85,000 on the open market, depending on the type of license, said Myers. The “Class C” license sought by the pizzeria is the most popular license around the state and permits the selling of beer, wine, mixed spirit drinks and spirits. Along with the on-premise license, Scooters is also applying for a Specially Designated Merchant license (SDM) allowing for the sale of packaged beer and wine to go, which means Scooters would be able to provide that with its pizza deliveries. Myers says he expects to his have the license by this fall. His business is exploring various options, including the possibility of serving beer from local breweries and whether or not to serve beer on tap or in bottles. Scooters is open seven days a week for the summer hours, serving salads, subs, wraps, soups, spaghetti, fish & chips and fried chicken, among other items.